Tulkarm: Israeli forces detained nearly 1,300 Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tulkarm within two days last week, in a sweeping crackdown that local officials and analysts say amounts to collective punishment against civilians. The raids followed a Sept. 11 roadside blast that lightly injured two Israeli soldiers. In response, troops stormed neighborhoods, dragging men from homes, shops, and vehicles before forcing hundreds into lines and marching them through the streets to open squares. Videos from the city showed detainees blindfolded and handcuffed, surrounded by armored jeeps and soldiers.

According to Anadolu Agency, Tulkarm's deputy governor, Faisal Salama, stated, "This was not about security; it was about breaking people's spirit." He detailed how pharmacists, drivers, and pedestrians were seized and herded into public spaces, treated like criminals. Salama indicated that the operation was part of an ongoing eight-month Israeli military campaign in Tulkarm and nearby refugee camps, characterized by weekly incursions and widespread home demolitions.

Suleiman Basharat, director of the Yabous Center for Strategic Studies, remarked on the resemblance of these tactics to those employed by Israel during the first Intifada in 1987. Basharat noted the use of mass detentions, closures, and restrictions on movement as classic tools of collective punishment. He suggested the campaign aims to extract intelligence, intimidate the population, train troops in urban operations, and create deterrence against future attacks.

Pharmacist Yazid Saraghli recounted his experience of being detained with colleagues and customers during their workday. He described being marched to a large square with over a thousand others, many bound and blindfolded. Saraghli provided medical assistance to those who collapsed during the ordeal, including a diabetic patient and another with heart issues. He mentioned that most detainees were released without questioning after hours of humiliation.

Since January, Israel has conducted a sustained military operation in Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps. Local committees report that over 600 homes have been razed and nearly 2,600 damaged. Officials say these demolitions are part of a plan to remove 106 structures to open roads and reshape the area, affecting numerous buildings, apartments, and shops in both camps.

Since October 2023, Israeli forces and illegal settlers have killed at least 1,042 Palestinians and injured more than 7,000 in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.